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☆ Tesla settles with Black worker who won two trials over racist discrimination
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Lora Kolodny | In Lorakolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Attorney Lawrence Organ, with the California Civil Rights Law Group, who represented Diaz told CNBC via e-mail: "The parties have reached an amicable resolution of their disputes. The same firm is representing current and former Tesla employees in a proposed class action lawsuit, Marcus Vaughn v. Tesla Inc., alleging that the racist discrimination and harassment of Black workers has continued at the automaker. Organ told CNBC by phone on Friday, "It took immense courage for Owen Diaz to stand up to a company the size of Tesla. Even though the litigation chapter of his life is over, there's still a lot of work to do for Tesla." Tesla has called the EECO's allegations "a false narrative that ignores Tesla's track record of equal employment opportunity."

Persons: Tesla, Owen Diaz, Lawrence Organ, Diaz, Marcus Vaughn, Organ, there's, Elon Musk, haven't, Jim Crow Organizations: California Civil Rights, Group, CNBC, Tesla Inc, Tesla, Commission Locations: Fremont , California

☆ A SpaceX employee is suing the company, alleging her manager forced her into a sexual relationship that led to pregnancy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A female SpaceX employee accused the company of gender discrimination and retaliation in a new lawsuit. The employee said in the suit that SpaceX continued to side with her male boss even after he left. AdvertisementA female SpaceX employee accused the rocket company of discrimination and retaliation in a new lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. The civil rights arm of the Justice Department has also filed suit against SpaceX alleging discrimination against asylees and refugees. Last month, Bloomberg obtained California civil rights complaints that revealed former SpaceX employees are accusing executives at the company of joking about sexual harassment and firing employees who reported their concerns.

Persons: —, Michelle Dopak, Dopak, Gwynn Shotwell, Shotwell Organizations: SpaceX, Service, Los Angeles Superior Court, Reuters, Business, Justice Department, Bloomberg Locations: Los Angeles, California

☆ SpaceX execs are accused of joking about sexual harassment and firing workers for speaking up, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

SpaceX execs are being accused of discriminating against women and joking about sexual harassment. The workers were fired in 2022 after circulating a draft of a letter critical of Elon Musk. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementFormer SpaceX employees are accusing executives at the company of discrimination against women, according to California civil rights complaints viewed by Bloomberg. Seven former employees say SpaceX execs joked about sexual harassment and fired workers for raising concerns, Bloomberg reported.

Persons: Elon Musk, — Organizations: SpaceX, Bloomberg, Service, Seven Locations: California

☆ Tesla ditched language saying it was 'a majority-minority workforce' after Elon Musk said 'DEI must die'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Tesla removed language around its minority workers and employee groups in a recent legal filing. The carmaker ditched the references shortly after Elon Musk spoke out against DEI. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe 2022 filing also cited outreach to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutions to sponsoring employee resource groups across numerous locations, including Asian Pacific Islanders at Tesla, Black at Tesla, Intersectionality, Latinos at Tesla, LGBTQ at Tesla, Veterans at Tesla, and Women in Tesla. Tesla's decision to omit any references to minority workers and employee resource groups comes only a few weeks after its CEO took to social media to criticize DEI.

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk, —, Mark Cuban, Musk, it's Organizations: Elon, Service, Bloomberg, Black Colleges, Universities, Asian Pacific Islanders, Intersectionality, Tesla, DEI, Employment Opportunity, Fremont Locations: Tesla, Fremont, California

☆ At unicorn startup Carta, a culture of absolute fealty to an erratic and vindictive CEO, employees say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Both men remained valued employees at Carta, with the sales representative even getting promoted just weeks after the alleged "helicopter penis" incident, according to former employees. CEO Henry Ward cofounded Carta, originally called eShares, in 2012 as a service for startups to digitize their paper stock certificates. Today Carta helps startups track their investors, employees manage their equity awards, and venture capitalists administer their funds. The lawsuit says that 10 days after Rogers filed her complaint, Ward "began treating Ms. Rogers in an aggressive and demeaning manner during several meetings." Many of the employees who have spoken out publicly about Carta and Ward have found themselves embroiled in expensive legal battles.

Persons: Lisa Whittaker, Whittaker, Jerry Talton, David Kim, Andrea Lamari, Kim, Henry Ward, Andreessen Horowitz, Ward, Henry, Alex Kurland, Carta, Peter Thiel, Simon Cowell, Talton's, Suzanne Elovic, Elovic, Lamari, Jeff Perry, Perry, salespeople, JT Goodman, Goodman, Goodman didn't, Jeff Perrry, Allie Rogers, Rogers, Rodgers, Rachel Mayes, Ward doesn't, Mayes, Jeff, Jeff Perry countersued, Orrick Herrington, Sutcliffe, Kleiner Perkins, Ellen Pao, Amanda Sheets, Sheets, Pushback, Lindauer, Whitaker, Whittaker wasn't, Barbara Byrne, Byrne, Talton, Joe Osnoss, Osnoss, Heidi Johnson, Johnson Organizations: Carta, UBS, Gold Club, Lightspeed, California Civil Rights Department, Meritech, YouTube, Win, York Stock Exchange, San, San Francisco Superior, San Francisco Superior Court, Barclays, Lehman Brothers, Montana Human Rights Bureau Locations: San Francisco, Brazil, Silicon Valley, California, Palo, Iranian, Lindauer, Silver, Montana

Tesla has failed to investigate complaints of racist conduct and has fired or otherwise retaliated against workers who reported harassment, the EEOC said in the lawsuit. The lawsuit adds federal charges to discrimination claims by the state of California and lawsuits by Tesla employees. It follows the breakdown of settlement talks with the EEOC after Tesla announced that the agency had formally raised its concerns last year. The department alleges that Tesla discriminated against Black workers when making decisions about pay, promotions and work assignments. Tesla is also facing a class action lawsuit in California state court over the alleged mistreatment of Black factory workers.

Persons: Tesla, Charlotte Burrows, Stephen Lam, Burrows, ”, Owen Diaz, Diaz, Black, Daniel Wiessner, Leslie Adler, Daniel Wallis, Alexia Garamfalvi, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Tesla, U.S, Tesla Inc, Opportunity Commission, Motorists, REUTERS, California Civil Rights Department, Thomson Locations: Fremont , California, U.S, California, Fremont, Black, Albany , New York

☆ Seven US senators raise concerns about Tesla use of forced arbitration clauses
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Tesla Inc FollowWASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) - A group of seven U.S. senators on Monday questioned Tesla Inc's (TSLA.O) use of forced arbitration clauses in employee and consumer contracts, arguing that they prevent bringing discrimination claims and consumer safety complaints to court. Tesla has said it does not tolerate workplace discrimination and takes worker complaints seriously. The senators cited an ongoing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into reports of “phantom braking" in Tesla vehicles. The senators sought answers to detailed questions by June 8 about Tesla's use of forced arbitration. The senators said arbitration clauses may keep"potential safety flaws from the public eye and limited regulatory authorities’ ability to protect Tesla customers and employees and hold Tesla publicly accountable."

☆ Byron Allen sues McDonald's for allegedly lying about commitment to Black media
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Byron Allen, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Entertainment Studios and Allen Media Group, speaks at the 2021 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., October 19, 2021. REUTERS/David SwansonMay 8 (Reuters) - The media entrepreneur Byron Allen has filed a second lawsuit against McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) over the fast-food chain's alleged refusal to advertise with Black-owned media. Allen said he would know if McDonald's were honoring that pledge because his Allen Media Group represents more than 90% of Black-owned media. The case are: Weather Group LLC et al v. McDonald's USA LLC, California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, No. 23STCV10045; and Entertainment Studios Networks Inc et al v McDonald's Corp, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No.

☆ Tesla investors call for 'distracted' Elon Musk to be reined in as they worry he's 'overcommitted'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Grace Kay | Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla investors called for Elon Musk to be reined in an open letter, citing the CEO's many commitments. A group of Tesla investors is calling for Elon Musk to be reined in, saying the CEO has been distracted by commitments to his other companies like Twitter. "The Board allowed the CEO to be overcommitted at a time when the company faces critical challenges," the letter stated. Tesla and Musk didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider ahead of publication. Gerber's name is not listed on the open letter.

A judge agreed with that jury that Tesla was liable but said the award was excessive. He ordered a new trial on damages after Diaz declined the reduced $15 million award. But it could be cut even further because punitive damages are typically capped at no more than nine times the amount of damages for emotional distress and other injuries, Saba said. The punitive damages awarded by the jury on Monday were nearly 20 times the damages for emotional distress. The first jury in 2021 awarded Diaz $7 million in damages for emotional distress and a staggering $130 million in punitive damages.

The trial involved Owen Diaz, a former elevator operator at the Fremont plant who said he was subjected to harassment including racial slurs and racist caricatures. Diaz won a $137 million verdict at a previous trial in 2021, but a federal judge lowered the jury's award to $15 million while agreeing that Tesla was liable. What stands out is the consistency of the claims alleging rampant harassment of Black workers at Tesla's plant in Fremont. Tesla is also fighting a spate of sexual harassment lawsuits by female workers at the Fremont plant and another factory near Los Angeles. In another pending case, a former production manager claims he was fired for raising concerns about safety issues at the Fremont plant and a factory in Nevada.

He opted for a new trial on damages after a judge agreed with that jury that Tesla was liable but significantly reduced the award to $15 million. Tesla and lawyers for Diaz did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the verdict. The first jury in 2021 awarded Diaz $7 million in damages for emotional distress and a staggering $130 million in punitive damages. On Friday, Orrick denied a motion by Diaz's lawyers for a mistrial. Orrick said those questions were related to other incidents discussed in the first trial, and that Diaz's lawyers had not shown that the questioning prejudiced the jury.

In the new lawsuit, Goode claims that over the course of 2022 the white regional manager made a series of offensive comments. Goode claims that last October the manager blocked him from interviewing for a promotion that ultimately went to a white worker. Tesla company policy does not set a deadline for the reports, Goode claims. The lawsuit, which alleges violations of California and federal laws banning workplace race discrimination and retaliation, seeks damages for lost wages and benefits and emotional distress and punitive damages. Tesla has denied wrongdoing in those cases and has said the lawsuit by the California Civil Rights Department was politically motivated.

☆ The second day of Tesla's racial bias trial included testimony from a former worker who said he found feces on a factory cart
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It was part of a retrial for an ex-contractor who filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against Tesla. Wheeler was one of a handful of former Tesla workers that testified on Tuesday regarding their experience as Black workers at Tesla's Fremont factory. Wheeler said that the incident occurred one evening during his night shift at the factory after he took a 30-minute break. Wheeler had testified about the alleged incident in the initial trial in 2021. His complaints echo similar lawsuits from other Tesla factory workers.

[1/2] The Tesla factory is seen in Fremont, California, U.S. June 22, 2018. California state judges typically issue tentative rulings ahead of hearings, but can make changes to those rulings when issuing final decisions. If the agency did not adequately probe certain claims against Tesla before suing, the electric carmaker could seek to have them removed from the case. The agency claims that Tesla's Fremont, California, plant is a racially segregated workplace where Black employees have been harassed and discriminated against in job assignments, discipline and pay. “You don’t get to inquire into the most minute details,” Grillo said.

Companies Tesla Inc FollowMarch 14 (Reuters) - A California civil rights agency suing Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) over alleged widespread race discrimination at its flagship assembly plant must detail the investigation it conducted prior to filing the lawsuit, a judge has ruled. The tentative ruling on Monday by California Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo in Oakland could give Tesla an opportunity to narrow the lawsuit filed last year by the state Civil Rights Department. If the agency did not probe certain claims against Tesla before suing, the electric carmaker could seek to have them removed from the case. The Civil Rights Department and a Tesla representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Several other lawsuits are pending in California courts that accuse Tesla of tolerating discrimination and sexual harassment at its factories.

☆ Elon Musk calls US media and schools 'racist against whites & Asians'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla Chief Executive Office Elon Musk speaks at his company's factory in Fremont, California. In the video, Adams discussed a poll conducted by right-leaning Rasmussen Reports that said 26% of Black respondents disagreed with the statement "It's OK to be white." In his video, Adams called Black people who rejected that phrase as a "hate group." He then added, "For a *very* long time, US media was racist against non-white people, now they're racist against whites & Asians. Musk claimed that the media coverage is "Very disproportionate to promote a false narrative."

"The production companies and producers ignored harassment on set, failed to act despite multiple complaints, and fired crew members for complaining about the harassment," the release added. The state civil rights department went on to investigate the claims. "Criminal Minds" ran for 15 seasons on CBS before moving over to the Paramount+ streaming service last month under the new title "Criminal Minds: Evolution." The popular series has spawned two short-lived CBS spinoff shows, "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" and "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders." In the summer of 2016, former "Criminal Minds" star Thomas Gibson was fired from the program days after he was suspended for a reported altercation with a producer during filming.

☆ Federal judge denies Tesla's retrial request in case involving worker's claims of racism at factory in Fremont, California
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A federal judge denied Tesla's request for a retrial over the verdict of a case involving a former worker's claims of racism. Last year, a jury determined that Tesla owed Owen Diaz $137 million over allegations of racism at its Fremont factory. US District Judge William H. Orrick halted Tesla's efforts to potentially overturn the racism verdict during a 20-minute motion hearing on Wednesday. Last year, a jury awarded former Tesla elevator operator Owen Diaz $137 million in his lawsuit against Tesla. Diaz was among the first of many Tesla workers at the Fremont factory to file a lawsuit against the company.

☆ L.A. sheriff’s deputy charged in 2021 fatal shooting of man who was already on the ground
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Julianne Mcshane | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

A Los Angeles sheriff's deputy was charged Wednesday for an on-duty, unlawful fatal shooting of a man who was holding a knife last year outside his family's East L.A. home. L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy Remin Pineda, 38, was charged with one felony count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and assault under color of authority following the March 2021 fatal shooting of David Ordaz, Jr., L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón announced Thursday. The deputies’ union, Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, did not immediately return a request for comment. In August, another L.A. County sheriff's deputy, Sean Essex, 51, was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting four girls in a case that prosecutors had declined to pursue a decade ago. Last year, a state civil rights investigation was opened into the sheriff’s department over allegations of excessive force.

☆ Shareholder group wants Tesla to link Musk's pay to ESG metrics
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

If executive pay were tied to goals like cutting emissions or worker rights, he added, "I can tell you those people will put their effort into solving the problems in the system." More companies are linking pay to ESG metrics like cutting carbon emissions or meeting workforce diversity levels, although some studies have found few offer incentives for big changes. Shareholder resolutions at Tesla's 2023 annual meeting are due by early next year. At its latest annual meeting, held in August, investors mostly sided with the recommendations of directors, helped by Musk's 15.6% stake in the company. Tesla faces a series of lawsuits involving alleged widespread race discrimination and sexual harassment including one by a California civil rights agency.

☆ Tesla seeks full retrial in factory worker’s race bias lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The damages trial is scheduled for March. Lawyers for Tesla and Diaz did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday. Tesla on Friday said the issues of liability and damages are “inextricably interwoven,” and Diaz must start from scratch with a full retrial. Tesla is facing a series of lawsuits involving alleged widespread race discrimination and sexual harassment at the Fremont factory, including one by a California civil rights agency. The company last month counter-sued the agency, claiming it filed the lawsuit without following the procedures required by state law.

☆ California job-seekers will soon see salary ranges on job postings
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

California job postings will soon include pay ranges, thanks to a new salary transparency bill signed into law by Gov. The move makes California the largest state where job listings will require salary information by law. In California, women are paid roughly 88 cents for every dollar paid to a man, with the gap increasing for women of color. Reporting pay data based on job and demographic background can help uncover occupational segregation that employers may not be aware of. Previous California law already requires companies with 100 or more direct-hire workers submit job and demographic data for those workers.

☆ Tesla Countersues California Agency That Filed Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Meghan Bobrowsky | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A lawsuit filed earlier this year against Tesla alleged the company, for years, ignored complaints from Black factory workers at its Fremont, Calif., plant. Tesla has countersued the California agency that filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the company, alleging that the government organization violated state law in bringing about the suit. The electric-vehicle maker, in the suit filed Thursday in Alameda County Superior Court, said the California Civil Rights Department—previously known as the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing—violated state rules by filing the lawsuit without seeking public comment or holding a public hearing.

The Tesla factory is seen in Fremont, California, U.S. June 22, 2018. REUTERS/Stephen Lam/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterCompanies Tesla Inc FollowSept 22 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) on Thursday countersued the California agency that has accused the electric carmaker of tolerating widespread race discrimination at its flagship assembly plant. Tesla had made similar claims in a bid to dismiss the California agency's lawsuit, which was denied by a state judge last month. The CRD claims Tesla's flagship Fremont, California, plant is a racially segregated workplace where Black employees faced racist slurs and graffiti and were discriminated against in terms of job assignments, discipline and pay. Austin, Texas-based Tesla is also facing a series of race and sex discrimination cases by workers, most involving the Fremont plant.

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